Pistons Lead East; Spurs Eye 50 Wins

Merlin sees the early season rearrange the map: Detroit sits atop the East on the back of Cade Cunningham and brutal interior defense anchored by Isaiah Stewart, San Antonio is suddenly elite thanks to Victor Wembanyama’s two-way dominance, Phoenix is better than expected under Jordan Ott, while Orlando’s shooting woes and injuries and the Clippers’ bench meltdowns leave them looking shaky. These surprises matter because they force teams to reframe expectations — some starts look sustainable, others are likely mirages. Merlin notes patterns: generational stars like Wembanyama lift teams beyond projection, while smoke (cold shooting, fluky defense) usually clears. Detroit’s paint power feels real; Orlando’s struggles feel correctable. As always, health and turnovers will tell the final tale — fortunes can flip by spring.